Morris E. Day is a musician, singer, and songwriter born December 13, 1957, in Springfield, IL. Morris and his family moved to Minneapolis, MN, when he was a teen. Morris met the iconic Prince while attending Bryant Junior High School. The duo formed a band, Grand Central, and later changed the name to
Champagne. The name ultimately became The Time, with Morris being the lead singer. The band was managed by Day’s mother, Lavonne Daugherty.
The duo quickly became a well-sought-after group with their unique blend of funk, pop, and R&B, with a contemporary, flamboyant persona. Their hits include “Jerk Out,” “Jungle Love,” “777- 9311,” and many more.
Morris eventually crossed over to acting, and in 1984, he appeared in “Purple Rain” and “Graffiti Bridge.” He also made appearances on sitcoms “New Attitude,” “Eve,” “Moesha,” and “227.” Furthermore, Morris released solo projects “Color of Success” and “Daydreaming,” which resulted in his biggest solo hit “Fishnets.”
Morris Day has written a memoir titled “A Princely Life in Funk.” In 2022, Morris made claims against Prince’s estate for being refused permission to perform under the name “Morris Day & The Time.” He has publicly argued that he has given 40 years of his life building the name and legacy that he and Prince created. He emphasized it wasn’t an issue while Prince was alive, and they even collaborated while Day was using the group’s name.
Also in 2022, Morris Day received the Legend Award at the Soul Train Awards with The Time.
